when people think of pumpkins, most people think of those orange pumpkins that are fun to pick and carve during the fall season. Pumpkins are also great for making delicious and tasty prescriptions. However, did you know that pumpkin can also be used for its seeds?
Have you heard of eating sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and other types, but it may be time to add pumpkin seeds to your list if you haven’t already. The dieticians of our board of medical experts gave us an idea of what would happen if you added them to your diet. Read on to see what the effects of pumpkin seeds are. So be sure to check out Surprising side effects of eating flaxseed, says science.
According to lauren managerMS, RDN, LDN, CLEC, CPTauthor of The new mom’s pregnancy cookbook, The 7 Ingredient Cookbook for a Healthy PregnancyY Feeding Male Fertilitypumpkin seeds contain zinca nutrient that supports immune health.
“Eating them consistently can help you get enough of this key mineral and support your immune health,” says Manaker.
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“Pumpkin seeds are high in fiber, which can be good, but it’s important to practice portion control,” she says. smooth youngPhD, RDNauthor of Finally full, finally slimand nutritionist in private practice.
If you eat too many pumpkin seeds at once, Dr. Young suggests it can give you gas and Stomach ache.
When warm milk isn’t enough, try your hand at pumpkin seeds. before bedtime.
“Pumpkin seeds are a natural source of tryptophan, an amino acid that promotes sleep,” says Manaker.
Therefore, he suggests eating them at night, which can help people get restful sleep.
Dr. Young advises that although pumpkin seeds are high in vitamin E and unsaturated fat, too many can lead to adding too many calories to your daily diet.
On average, a quarter cup of dried pumpkin seeds has about 180 calories. If you were to double the serving size, you’d be doubling the calories, easily coming in at over 300 calories in a snack.
So as nutritious as these seeds are, Dr. Young advises that it’s best practice moderation.
According to Manaker, pumpkin seeds contain lignans, polyphenols that can help reduce breast cancer risk.
In an observational study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Cancer, eating pumpkin seeds was found to be associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Other to study published in the same journal suggested that lignans in food may also play an important role in treating this cancer.
“Pumpkin seeds contain important minerals like iron and calcium,” says Dr. Young.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the recommended daily intake of calcium it is 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams for men and 1,200 for women if you are 51 or older. Meanwhile, the recommended daily intake for iron it is 10 to 15 milligrams for adult men and women, and 30 milligrams for pregnant women.
So, if you’re looking for a quick way to get your nutrients, eat some pumpkin seeds!
Do you need to feel zen? You can use teas and other herbal methods, but you may want to try something different.
According to Manaker, pumpkin seeds are a source of magnesium. She suggests that magnesium is a mineral that can help promote a sense of calm in the brain.
If you’ve ever eaten a pumpkin seed, you know that it has a crunchy texture and can have a hardened exterior. They make a great added crunch to a dish like salads (instead of croutons) or thrown on top of your pumpkin soup.
However, its hardness, if not chewed carefully, can cause some throat damage.
“Make sure you chew your pumpkin seeds well,” says Dr. Young. “Pumpkin seeds that are not chewed well can aggravate the esophagus when swallowing.”
Kayla Garritano
Kayla Garritano is a staff writer for Eat This, Not That! She is a graduate of Hofstra University, where she majored in Journalism and double majored in Marketing and Creative Writing. read more
